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The Ten Thousand Doors of January

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The Ten Thousand Doors of January

Written by: Alix E. Harrow
Narrated by: January LaVoy
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About this listen

"A gorgeous, aching love letter to stories, storytellers, and the doors they lead us through...absolutely enchanting." —Christina Henry, bestselling author of Alice and Lost Boys

A young woman in the early 1900s embarks on a fantastical journey of self-discovery after finding a mysterious book in this captivating and lyrical novel.


In a sprawling mansion filled with peculiar treasures, January Scaller is a curiosity herself. As the ward of the wealthy Mr. Locke, she feels little different from the artifacts that decorate the halls: carefully maintained, largely ignored, and utterly out of place.

Then she finds a strange book. A book that carries the scent of other worlds, and tells a tale of secret doors, of love, adventure, and danger. Each page turn reveals impossible truths about the world and January discovers a story increasingly entwined with her own.

Lush and richly imagined, a tale of impossible journeys, unforgettable love, and the enduring power of stories await in Alix E. Harrow's spellbinding debut—step inside and discover its magic.

Praise for The Ten Thousand Doors of January:

"One for the favorites shelf... Here is a book to make you happy when you gently close it. Here you will find wonder and questions and an unceasingly gorgeous love of words which compasses even the shape a letter makes against a page."―NPR Books

"Devastatingly good, a sharp, delicate nested tale of worlds within worlds, stories within stories, and the realm-cracking power of words."―Melissa Albert, New York Times bestselling author

"A love letter to imagination, adventure, the written word, and the power of many kinds of love."―Kirkus Reviews

A Los Angeles Times bestseller

Finalist for the 2020 Hugo, Nebula, Locus, and World Fantasy Awards.

For more from Alix E. Harrow, check out The Once and Future Witches.
Coming of Age Fantasy Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Literary Fiction Magic Romance Classics Heartfelt Feel-Good Magical Realism Fiction

What the critics say

"LaVoy's assured, mellifluous narration pairs well with the vivid lyricism of Harrow's spellbinding fantasy, and her dexterity with characters fleshes out the wondrous and strange beings on each page."—Seattle Times
"LaVoy's theatrical skills delight as she narrates January's thrilling story of fantastical characters and new worlds-and the tale hidden within the pages of her book."—AudioFile
"Many worlds, vanishing doors, mind-cracking magic: I clung to each page, searching for answers. This is one of the most unique works of fiction I've ever read!"—Tamora Pierce, New York Times bestselling author
"A gorgeous, aching love letter to stories, storytellers and the doors they lead us through...absolutely enchanting."—Christina Henry, national bestselling author of Lost Boys and Alice
"The Ten Thousand Doors of January begins as a simple adventure, but like its mysteriously transportive doors, leads deeper and deeper the further you read. Each page dazzles with things to be discovered: a mansion of priceless artefacts, a secret journal, a tantalizing quest through strange and beautiful places, and a love story that spans time, worlds, and magic. I couldn't put it down."—Peng Shepherd, critically acclaimed author of The Book of M
"One for the favorites shelf... Here is a book to make you happy when you gently close it. Here you will find wonder and questions and an unceasingly gorgeous love of words which compasses even the shape a letter makes against a page."—NPR Books
"Harrow has created a gorgeous world of magic that is at once familiar and startlingly new. With lush writing and a sense of wonder, The Ten Thousand Doors of January examines power, progress, and identity. It is an adventure in the best and grandest sense."—Erika Swyler, author of The Book of Speculation
"The Ten Thousand Doors of January is devastatingly good, a sharp, delicate nested tale of worlds within worlds, stories within stories, and the realm-cracking power of words."—Melissa Albert, New York Times bestselling author of The Hazel Wood
"The Ten Thousand Doors of January healed hurts I didn't even know I had. An unbearably beautiful story about growing up, and everything we fight to keep along the way."—Amal El-Mohtar, Hugo Award-winning author
"A love letter to imagination, adventure, the written word, and the power of many kinds of love."—Kirkus
"A gorgeously written story of love and longing, of what it means to lose your place in the world, and then have the courage to find it again. This book is a door I'm glad to have opened."—Kat Howard, author of An Unkindness of Magicians

Featured Article: The Best Female Narrators You Can Listen To All Day


When considering a new audiobook, one of the biggest questions listeners have is whether they’ll enjoy the narration style. This is understandable as audiobooks span at least a few hours, and sticking with one person’s voice for that period can feel like a big commitment. Luckily, there are so many excellent voice actors performing audiobooks that you might just find yourself gravitating to certain audiobooks based solely on the narrator’s strength.

All stars
Most Relevant
A bit predictable but an enjoyable read. The concepts are creative and the characters are not too conventional. There is a trend of human perseverance and familial connection that is quite touching and advocates the ideal of when even if all seems lost, you must keep going.
The actress does a good job in carrying both mood and emotion in narrative and dialogue.

Good Read

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This book is an absolute masterpiece in my opinion. I will read it again. Probably start in just a few days. Harrow’s use of metaphor and turn of phrase are so achingly brilliant. January’s story will fill your heart with joy and leave you sobbing for what could have been at the very same time. A book like this doesn’t come around often. The audio is also excellent.

Stunning!!

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This is very different from what I normally read, but I really enjoyed it. It is beautifully written and clean, which is hard to find. The beginning is a little confusing, but it’s meant to be that way. The mysteries unfold and and come alive as the book goes on. I couldn’t stop listening!!

One small qualm I had, which another reviewer has already mentioned, was the narrator’s attempt at accents. They were distractingly bad and they all sounded the same even though they were meant to be from very different parts of the world(s). I would have preferred it if she hadn’t tried to do the accents. Don’t let that put you off though! Everything else about it was truly magical.

Accents Distracting

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This story was just what I needed. A love letter to adventure, to those born in the wrong place, to those who fight to keep borders open. The story honours the exchange of ideas, rather than the preservation of artifacts. The power of words, and the importance of change.

amazing story

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I really enjoyed the storyline on this one. It pulled me in so many directions emotionally. Each character is so well formulated and Alix sure knows exactly how to write the next line to keep the reader wanting to know more! I found it so hard to put the book down (figuratively speaking). Every so often I'm sure people walking past me on the street heard me gasp audibly and say, "wait, what??".

January LaVoy has a knack for voice acting. I've listened to a few other books she's narrated as well and I can always tell precisely which character is speaking based on the tone and timbre of her voice. I love when the narrator takes all the guess work out and allows me to paint the picture of the story in my mind just by following the sound of their voice. I don't want to do the work. That's why I'm listening to an audio book lol

Highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an interesting storyline, great writing/character development and stellar narration.

Engaging Storyline and Impressive Narration

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